Middle ear related hospital procedures among children
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Middle ear procedures among First Nations children aged 0–14 increased to 7.3 per 1,000 in 2023–24, almost back to the pre-pandemic peak of 7.4 per 1,000.
This section focuses on middle ear related procedures occurring during hospitalisations with a main diagnosis of middle ear disease for children aged 0–14.
Overview
From July 2022 to June 2024, 4,537 in-hospital middle ear related procedures were performed for First Nations children aged 0–14. The middle ear procedure rate was higher among First Nations children (6.9 per 1,000 population) than among non-Indigenous children (5.6 per 1,000 population) (Data Table 3.3.2a).
Age and sex
For First Nations children, middle ear procedure rates were highest among those aged 3–4 years (13 per 1,000 population). In comparison, for non-Indigenous children, middle ear procedure rates were highest among those aged 0–2 (12.1 per 1,000 population).
Among First Nations children, middle ear procedures rates were 1.2 to 2.1 times as high for boys aged 1–6 as for girls of the same age (Data Table 3.3.2b).
Figure TREATMENT 20: Middle ear related procedures among children aged 0–14, by Indigenous status and age, 2022–24
Column chart shows rates of middle ear related procedures for First Nations children highest among those aged 3–4 years .
| Age | First Nations | Non-Indigenous |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | 10.2 | 12.1 |
| 3–4 | 13 | 11.6 |
| 5–6 | 9.2 | 7.3 |
| 7–9 | 5.5 | 2.7 |
| 10–14 | 2.5 | 1 |
| Age | First Nations | Non-Indigenous |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | 1,395 | 20,460 |
| 3–4 | 1,097 | 13,123 |
| 5–6 | 786 | 8,553 |
| 7–9 | 717 | 4,932 |
| 10–14 | 542 | 3,124 |
- To calculate rates for the First Nations population, projections (medium series) based on the 2021 Census have been used (ABS 2011-to-2031). Rates for non-Indigenous Australians are calculated using total population estimates based on the 2021 Census (ABS 2022) and subtracting the projections for First Nations people.
- Data exclude separations for Newborns without qualified days, Hospital boarders and Posthumous organ procurement.
- Data exclude hospitalisations in WA with a contracted patient status of 'Inter-hospital contracted patient to private sector hospital', to adjust for separations recorded on both sides of contractual care arrangements.
Source:
AIHW analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Database; and ABS population estimates and projections for rate calculations.
Remoteness
Middle ear procedure rates were generally highest among First Nations children aged 3–4 living in Major cities (14.3 per 1,000 population), Inner regional areas (12.5 per 1,000), Outer regional areas (10.6 per 1,000) and Remote areas (15.8 per 1,000).
The pattern was different in Very remote areas, where the middle ear procedure rate was highest among First Nations children aged 7–9 (11.0 per 1,000 population) (Figure TREATMENT 21).
Figure TREATMENT 21: Middle ear related procedures among children aged 0–14, First Nations people, by remoteness and age, 2022–24
Column chart shows middle ear procedure rate highest for First Nations children 3–4 in all but Very remote areas where it was highest for children 7–9.
| Remoteness | 0–2 | 3–4 | 5–6 | 7–9 | 10–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major cities | 12.5 | 14.3 | 9.7 | 4.4 | 1.9 |
| Inner regional | 9.7 | 12.5 | 8.7 | 4.9 | 1.7 |
| Outer regional | 7.1 | 10.6 | 7.2 | 4.7 | 1.7 |
| Remote | 7.6 | 15.8 | 11.6 | 9.2 | 6.5 |
| Very Remote | 4.5 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 11 | 5.8 |
| Remoteness area | 0–2 | 3–4 | 5–6 | 7–9 | 10–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major cities | 738 | 509 | 341 | 234 | 172 |
| Inner regional | 345 | 276 | 192 | 171 | 103 |
| Outer regional | 181 | 168 | 116 | 116 | 76 |
| Remote | 52 | 70 | 52 | 66 | 77 |
| Very remote | 45 | 57 | 73 | 118 | 99 |
- Rates are calculated using population denominators modelled by the AIHW using ABS population estimates and projections (medium series).
- Data exclude separations for Newborns without qualified days, Hospital boarders and Posthumous organ procurement.
- Data exclude hospitalisations in WA with a contracted patient status of 'Inter-hospital contracted patient to private sector hospital', to adjust for separations recorded on both sides of contractual care arrangements.
Source:
AIHW analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Database; and AIHW population modelling using ABS population estimates and projections.
Over time
Middle ear related hospital procedure rates for First Nations children aged 0–6 peaked around the years 2017–18 and 2018–19. Following decreases in the rates coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates have increased again recently. A similar trend is apparent for non-Indigenous children in the same age group.
Rates for First Nations children aged 7–14 have remained higher than rates for non-Indigenous children from 2016–17 to 2023–24 (Figure TREATMENT 22).
Figure TREATMENT 22: Middle ear related hospital procedures among children aged 0–14, by Indigenous status and age, 2016–17 to 2023–24
Middle ear related hospital procedures among children aged 0–14, by Indigenous status and age, 2016–17 to 2023–24.
Source: AIHW analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Database; and ABS population estimates and projections for rate calculations.